JP2002334561A - Information recording medium, and device for recording and reproducing information to and from information recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recording medium which records an MPEG transport stream with a storage format not dependent upon a platform and a device and method capable of rapidly and easily performing copying between apparatus without depending upon the real time. SOLUTION: The information recording/reproducing device has means of converting recorded contents to the file format consisting of a common simple header section and data section and outputting the same through a digital interface to the external apparatus or means of recording the recording medium, thereby permitting the copying of contents without depending upon the reproducing time of the contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a readable and writable information recording medium, and more particularly to an information recording medium on which multimedia data including various formats such as moving picture data, still picture data and audio data is recorded. Regarding the medium. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus for recording and reproducing information on and from such an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of rewritable optical disks, the upper limit of which is about 650 MB, a phase change disk DVD-RAM having a capacity of several GB has appeared. Along with the practical use of MPEG (MPEG2), which is a coding standard for digital AV data, DVD-RAM is expected as a recording / playback medium not only for computers but also in the audio / video (AV) technology field. Current DVD-
In a DVD recorder using RAM, the content to be recorded is independently encoded by the recorder (self-encoding).
It is assumed that However, when recording content encoded outside a recorder such as a digital broadcast, it is desired to record the content in a format of the content encoded externally.
In the case of digital broadcasting, it is desired to record in the form of an MPEG transport stream.

Recently, BS digital broadcasting has been started in Japan, and devices for recording digital broadcasting as MPEG transport streams, such as D-VHS and HDD recorders, as well as DVD recorders, are becoming widespread. However, since the recording format of the MPEG transport stream is not unified among these devices, when copying the content between the devices, the format of the copy destination device is changed from the data format of the copy source device. The only way to do this is to convert it to a digital interface, or copy it over a real-time like a broadcast.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording medium in which an MPEG transport stream is recorded in a platform-independent storage format. And copy between devices at high speed without depending on real time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method which can be performed easily.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information recording medium according to the present invention is an information recording medium on which an MPEG transport stream is recorded.
The EG transport stream file includes a header section and a data section, and the header section stores at least time accuracy information of a time stamp indicating a decoder input time given to each MPEG transport stream packet. Is an information recording medium on which an MPEG transport stream file is recorded, which comprises each MPEG transport stream packet and a time stamp indicating a decoder input time of the MPEG transport stream packet.

An information reproducing / recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for reproducing the MPEG transport stream file from an information recording medium or recording the MPEG transport stream file on an information recording medium. It is an apparatus provided with connection means.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a DVD disk, a DVD recorder and a DVD player which are embodiments of an information recording medium, a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in the following order with reference to the accompanying drawings. In particular, the points of the invention are “8. Summary of the invention” and “9.
This will be explained. Note that the degree of relevance is different, but all are embodiments of the present invention.

[0008] 1. 1. System outline of DVD recorder device 2. Overview of functions of DVD recorder device Overview of DVD Disc 4. Outline of AV information to be reproduced 5. Overview of management information and playback control of AV information 6. Basic operation of playback function 7. Basic operation of recording function Summary of the Invention Detailed Embodiment (1. System Overview of DVD Recorder) FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external appearance of a VD recorder device and an interface between related devices. As shown in FIG.
The recorder is loaded with a DVD, which is an optical disk, and records and reproduces video information. The operation is generally performed with a remote control.

Video information input to a DVD recorder includes both analog signals and digital signals. Analog signals include analog broadcasting and digital signals include digital broadcasting. In general, analog broadcasting is received and demodulated by a receiver built in a television device,
It is input to a DVD recorder as an analog video signal such as NTSC, and digital broadcasting is performed by STB (Serial) as a receiver.
The signal is demodulated into a digital signal by a t-top box and input to a DVD recorder and recorded.

On the other hand, a DVD disk on which video information is recorded is reproduced by a DVD recorder and output to the outside. As with the input, there are both analog and digital signals as well as the input. If the signal is an analog signal, it is directly input to the television device.
After being converted into an analog signal, it is input to a television device and displayed on the television device.

On a DVD disk, video information may be recorded and reproduced by a DVD camcorder other than a DVD recorder or a personal computer. Even if it is a DVD disc on which video information is recorded outside the DVD recorder, the DVD recorder reproduces the DVD disc when it is loaded into the DVD recorder.

It should be noted that audio information is usually attached to the above-described video information of analog broadcasting and digital broadcasting. The accompanying audio information is similarly recorded and reproduced by the DVD recorder. The video information is generally a moving image, but may be a still image. For example, this is the case when a still image is recorded by the photograph function of a DVD camcorder. Note that STB
Digital I / F between DVD and DVD recorder is IEEE13
94, ATAPI, SCSI, etc.

Although the example between the DVD recorder and the television device is NTSC which is a composite video signal, a component signal for transmitting a luminance signal and a color difference signal separately may be used. Further, as for a video transmission I / F between an AV device and a television device, research and development to replace an analog I / F with a digital I / F, for example, a DVI, is being promoted, and a DVD recorder and a television device have a digital I / F. / F is naturally expected to be connected.

(2. Overview of Functions of DVD Recorder) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the DVD recorder. The drive device includes an optical pickup 101 for reading data from a DVD-RAM disk 100, an ECC (Erro
r Correcting Code) processing unit 102, track buffer 103, switch 104 for switching input / output of track buffer 103, encoder unit 105, and decoder unit 106.

As shown in FIG. 1, data is recorded on the DVD-RAM disk 100 with one sector = 2 KB as a minimum unit. In addition, the ECC processing unit 10 sets 16 sectors = 1 ECC block in units of ECC blocks.
An error correction process is performed in 2.

The DVD recorder may include a semiconductor memory card or a hard disk drive as a data storage medium in addition to a DVD disk. FIG.
2 shows a block diagram of a DVD recorder provided with a semiconductor memory card and a hard disk drive. One sector may be 512B, 8KB, or the like. The ECC block also has one sector, 16 sectors, and 3 sectors.
Two sectors or the like may be used. It is expected that the sector size and the number of sectors constituting the ECC block will increase as the recordable information capacity increases.

The track buffer 103 is a DVD-RA
A buffer for recording AV data at a variable bit rate (VBR) in order to record AV data on the M disk 100 more efficiently. DVD-RAM disk 1
Since the read / write rate (Va) to 00 is a fixed rate, the bit rate (Vb) of AV data changes according to the complexity of its contents (image in the case of video). Is a buffer for absorbing the difference between

If the track buffer 103 is used more effectively, it is possible to arrange AV data discretely on the disk 100. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows an address space on the disk. As shown in FIG. 3A, the AV data is [a1, a2]
Is recorded separately in the continuous area of [a3, a4] and the continuous area of [a3, a4], the data stored in the track buffer is supplied to the decoder unit 106 while seeking from a2 to a3. Continuous reproduction of data becomes possible. FIG. 3B shows the state at this time.

The AV data that has been read at the position a1 is input to the track buffer 103 at time t1, and the output of data from the track buffer 103 is started. As a result, the input rate (Va) to the track buffer and the output rate (V
Data is accumulated in the track buffer by the rate difference (Va-Vb) of b). This state continues until the search area reaches a2, that is, until time t2. Assuming that the amount of data accumulated in the track buffer 103 during this time is B (t2), B (t2) accumulated in the track buffer 103 from time t2 to time t3 when reading of data in the area a3 starts. May be continued to be supplied to the decoder 106. In other words, the amount of data read before seeking ([a1, a
If 2)) or more is secured, even if a seek occurs, continuous supply of AV data is possible.

The size of the continuous area in which AV data can be continuously supplied is expressed by the following equation when converted into the number of ECC blocks (Nec). In the equation, Nsec is the number of sectors constituting the ECC block, Ssize is the sector size, and Tj is the seek performance (maximum seek time).

Necc = Vb * Tj / ((Nsec * 8
* Ssize) * (1−Vb / Va)) Further, a defective sector may be generated in the continuous area. Considering this case, the continuous area is represented by the following equation. In the equation, dNec is the size of the defective sector to be accepted, and Ts is the time required to skip the defective sector in the continuous area. This size is also represented by the number of ECC blocks.

Necc = dNecc + Vb * (Tj + T
s) / ((Nsec * 8 * Ssize) * (1-Vb /
Va)) Here, the example of reading data from the DVD-RAM, that is, the case of reproducing, has been described.
The same can be considered in the case of writing data to the memory, that is, in the case of recording. As described above, in the DVD-RAM, as long as data of a certain amount or more is continuously recorded, continuous reproduction / recording is possible even if AV data is recorded on a disk in a distributed manner. In DVD, this continuous area is called CDA.

(3. Overview of DVD Disc) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the appearance and physical structure of a DVD-RAM disc which is a recordable optical disc. DVD-RAM
Is generally loaded into a DVD recorder while being housed in a cartridge. The purpose is to protect the recording surface. However, if the recording surface is protected by another configuration, or if it is acceptable, it may of course be arranged so that the recording surface can be directly loaded into the DVD recorder without being housed in the cartridge. DV
The D-RAM disk records data by a phase change method. Data recorded on the disk is managed in sector units,
Access address is attached. The 16 sectors serve as an error correction unit, are provided with an error correction code, and
It is called a C block.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a recording area of a DVD-RAM disc which is a recordable optical disc. As shown in the figure, the DVD-RAM disk has a lead-in area at the innermost circumference, a lead-out area at the outermost circumference, and a data area between them. The lead-in area is
A reference signal necessary for stabilizing the servo at the time of access of the optical pickup, an identification signal with another medium, and the like are recorded. The same reference signal as the lead-in area is recorded in the lead-out area. The data area is
It is divided into sectors (2048 bytes), which is the minimum access unit. In addition, DVD-RAM has a Z-CLV (Zone Constant Linear V
To implement rotation control called elocity, the data area is divided into a plurality of zone areas.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a plurality of zone areas provided concentrically on a DVD-RAM. As shown in FIG.
It is divided into four zone areas. The rotational angular velocity of the DVD-RAM is set for each zone area so as to become faster in the zone on the inner peripheral side, and is kept constant while the optical pickup accesses in one zone. With this, DVD
-The recording density of the RAM is increased, and the rotation control during recording / reproduction is facilitated.

FIG. 5B is an explanatory view in which the lead-in area, the lead-out area, and the zone areas 0 to 23 shown concentrically in FIG. 5A are arranged in the horizontal direction. Each of the lead-in area and the lead-out area has a defect management area (DMA) therein.
The defect management area refers to an area in which position information indicating the position of a sector in which a defect has occurred and alternative position information indicating in which of the above-mentioned alternative areas a sector replacing the defective sector exists are recorded. .

Each zone area has a user area inside thereof, and has an alternative area and an unused area at the boundary. The user area refers to an area that can be used as a recording area by the file system. The replacement area is an area used when a defective sector exists.
The unused area is an area that is not used for data recording.
An unused area is provided for about two tracks. The unused area is provided because the sector address is recorded at the same position on an adjacent track in the zone, but the ZC
In the LV, since the recording position of the sector address is different in the track adjacent to the zone boundary, it is to prevent the sector address from being erroneously determined.

As described above, there are sectors not used for data recording at the zone boundaries. For this reason, the DVD-R is designed to continuously show only the sectors used for data recording.
AM is a logical sector number (LSN: Logicala) in order from the inner circumference.
l Sector Number) is assigned to a physical sector in the user area.

FIG. 6 shows a DV composed of logical sectors.
2 shows a logical data space of a D-RAM. The logical data space is called a volume space and records user data. The volume area manages recording data by a file system. That is, volume structure information for managing a group of sectors for storing data as a file and a group of files as a directory is recorded at the beginning and end of the volume area. The file system according to the present embodiment is called UDF and conforms to the ISO13346 standard. It should be noted that the group of sectors is not always arranged continuously in the volume space, but is partially arranged discretely. For this reason, the file system manages, as an extent, a group of sectors that are continuously arranged in the volume space among the sector groups that constitute the file, and manages the file as a set of related extents.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of directories and files recorded on the DVD-RAM. Under the route, VI
There is a DEO_RT directory under which files of various objects, which are data for reproduction, and VIDEO as management information indicating their reproduction order and various attributes.
Stores a Manager file. The object is data conforming to the MPEG standard, and includes PS_VOB,
There are TS1_VOB, TS2_VOB, AOB, and POB.

PS_VOB, AOB, POB are MPEG
TS1_VO
B and TS2_VOB are transport streams (T
S). The program stream has a data structure considering storage of AV information in a package medium, while the transport stream has a data structure considering communication media.

PS_VOB, TS1_VOB, TS2_
A VOB is an object that has both video information and audio information and is mainly composed of video information. Of these, TS
1_VOB is an object in which encoding is performed by a DVD recorder and the internal picture structure is managed in detail, and TS2_VOB is an object encoded outside the DVD recorder and has a data structure such as an internal picture structure. Unknown object.

Typically, TS1_VOB is an object in which a DVD recorder encodes an analog video signal inputted from the outside into a transport stream, and TS2_VOB is directly encoded on a disc without encoding a digital video signal inputted from the outside. The recorded object.

AOB and POB are MPEG program streams, AOB is an object mainly composed of audio information, and POB is an object mainly composed of still images.

The above-mentioned subject of video information and subject of audio information means that the assignment of the bit rate is large.
VOB is used for applications such as movies, and AOB
Is used for music applications.

(4. Outline of AV Information to be Reproduced) FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of MPEG data recorded as various AV objects on a DVD disk. As shown in FIG. 8, the video stream and the audio stream are respectively divided and multiplexed. In the MPEG standard, a stream after multiplexing is called a system stream. In the case of a DVD, a system stream in which information unique to the DVD is set is called a VOB (Video Object). The unit of division is called a packed packet, and has a data amount of about 2 KB.

The video stream is coded according to the MPEG standard, is compressed at a variable bit rate, and has a high bit rate for a complex video such as a fast moving one. According to the MPEG standard, each picture of a video is
The pictures are coded by classifying them into pictures, P pictures, and B pictures. Of these, the I picture is subjected to spatial compression encoding that is completed within a frame, and the P picture and B picture are subjected to temporal compression encoding using correlation between frames. In MPEG, a section including at least an I picture is managed as a GOP (Group of Picture). The GOP becomes an access point in trick play such as fast-forward play. This is because it has an I-picture compressed in a frame. On the other hand, to encode an audio stream,
In the case of DVD, MPEG audio AAC, MP
In addition to AC3, encoding of AC3 or LPCM is used.

As shown in FIG. 8, a multiplexed data unit including video information forming a GOP and its accompanying audio information is called a VOBU (Video Object Unit). The VOBU may include information for managing the moving image section as header information. The system stream described in FIG. 8 includes a program stream (PS) and a transport stream (TS). The former has a data structure considering a package medium, and the latter has a data structure considering a communication medium.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the data structures of the program stream and the transport stream. The program stream is composed of fixed-length packs, which are the minimum units for transmission and multiplexing.
It has more than one packet. Both the pack and the packet have a header section and a data section. In MPEG, the data part is called a payload. In the case of DVD, the fixed length of the pack is 2 KB in conformity with the sector size. A pack can have a plurality of packets, but a pack that stores DVD video and audio has only one packet, so that one pack = 1 packet except in special cases.

On the other hand, the unit of transmission and multiplexing of the transport stream is composed of fixed-length TS packets. TS
The size of the packet is 188B, which is compatible with ATM transmission, which is a communication standard. TS packet is 1
One or more collectively constitute a PES packet. The PES packet is a concept common to the program stream and the transport stream, and has a common data structure. The packet stored in the pack of the program stream is P
An ES packet is directly formed, and one or more TS packets of a transport stream are collected to form a PES packet.

A PES packet is a minimum unit of encoding, and stores video information and audio information which are commonly encoded. That is, video information and audio information of different encoding systems are not mixedly stored in one PES packet. However, picture boundaries and audio frame boundaries need not be guaranteed for the same encoding method. As shown in FIG.
One I picture is stored in an S packet,
A plurality of picture data may be stored in the ES packet.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the individual data structures of the transport stream and the program stream. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the TS packet is
It comprises an S packet header, an application field, and a payload part. The PID (Pack
et Identifier) is stored, whereby various streams such as a video stream or an audio stream to which the TS packet belongs are identified.

The application field contains a PCR (Program Cloc).
k Reference) is stored. PCR is a reference value of the reference clock (STC) of the device that decodes the stream. The device typically demultiplexes the system stream at the timing of PCR and reconstructs it into various streams such as a video stream.

In the PES header, DTS (Decoding Tim)
e Stamp) and PTS (PresentationTime Stamp). DTS indicates the decoding timing of the picture / audio frame stored in the PES packet, and PTS indicates the presentation timing of video / audio output or the like. Note that PES is added to all PES packet headers.
It is not necessary to have a TS and a DTS.
If there is S and DTS, there is no problem in decoding and output.

FIG. 12 shows the details of the structure of the TS packet. As shown in FIG.
In addition to the above, a random access display flag is stored, and the flag indicates whether or not data corresponding to the head of a video / audio frame and being an access point is stored in a corresponding payload portion. Further, in addition to the above-described PID, the header part of the TS packet also stores a unit start display flag indicating the start of the PES packet, and applied field control information indicating whether or not an applied field follows.

FIG. 11 shows the structure of a pack constituting a program stream. Pack is SC in pack header
R and StreamID. The SCR is substantially the same as the PCR of the transport stream, and the StreamID is substantially the same as the PID. Since the data structure of the PES packet is common to the transport stream, PTS and DTS are stored in the PES header.

One of the major differences between the program stream and the transport stream is that a multi-program is allowed in the transport stream. That is,
Although only one program can transmit a program stream in units of programs, the transport stream is assumed to transmit a plurality of programs at the same time. For this reason, in the transport stream, it is necessary for the playback device to identify either a video stream or an audio stream that constitutes a program for each program.

FIG. 13 shows a PAT for transmitting configuration information of an audio stream and a video stream constituting a program.
2 shows a table and a PMAP table. As shown in FIG. 13, the PMAP table stores information on a combination of a video stream and an audio stream used for each program, and the PAT table stores information on a combination of the program and the PMAP table. The playback device is P
A video stream and an audio stream constituting the program requested to be output can be detected from the AT table and the PMAP table.

Next, the above-described packs of the program stream and the arrangement of the TS packets of the transport stream on the disc will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14A, 16 sectors form an ECC block. Pack (PSPa) that constitutes a video object (PS # VOB) in the form of a program stream
ck) are arranged at the sector boundary as shown in FIG. This is because both the pack size and the sector size are 2 KB.

On the other hand, a video object (TS1-VOB / TS2-VOB) in the form of a transport stream is expressed in units of 8 KB called capsules.
It is arranged in the CC block. The capsule has an 18B header area, and 43 TS packets to which ATS information is added are arranged in the data area. ATS information (Arriva
l Time Stamp Information) is information generated and added by the DVD recorder, and
This is information indicating the timing transmitted from outside to the recorder.

(5. Overview of AV Information Management Information and Playback Control) FIGS. 15 and 16 show the data structure of a file called video management information (Video Manager) shown in FIG. The video management information includes object information indicating management information such as a recording position of various objects on a disc, and reproduction control information indicating a reproduction order of the objects.

FIG. 15 shows PS-VOB # 1 to PS-VOB # n and TS as objects recorded on the disc.
1-VOB # 1 to TS1-VOB # n, TS2-VOB
The case where # 1 to TS2-VOB # n are present is shown. As shown in FIG. 15, depending on the type of these objects, PS
An information table for -VOB, an information table for TS1-VOB, and an information table for TS2-VOB exist individually, and each information table has VOB information for each object.

The VOB information includes general information of the corresponding object, attribute information of the object, an access map for converting the reproduction time of the object into an address on the disk, and management information of the access map. I have. The general information includes identification information of the corresponding object, the recording time of the object, and the like. The attribute information includes video stream information (V_ATR) including the coding mode of the video stream, the number of audio streams (AST_Ns), And audio stream information (A_ATR) including a coding mode of the audio stream.

There are two reasons for requiring an access map. The first is to prevent the reproduction path information from directly referring to the recording position of the object on the disk by a sector address or the like, and to be able to indirectly refer to the reproduction time of the object. In the case of a RAM medium, the recording position of the object may be changed by editing or the like. However, if the reproduction path information directly refers to the recording position of the object by a sector address or the like, the reproduction path information to be updated This is because the number increases. On the other hand, if the reproduction time is indirectly referred to, the reproduction path information need not be updated, and only the access map needs to be updated.

The second reason is that an AV stream generally has two standards, a time axis and a data (bit string) axis, and there is no perfect correlation between these two standards. For example, M which is an international standard for video streams
In the case of PEG-2 video, the use of a variable bit rate (a method of changing the bit rate according to the complexity of image quality) is becoming mainstream, and in this case, the proportionality between the amount of data from the head and the playback time is increasing. Since there is no relationship, random access based on the time axis cannot be performed. In order to solve this problem, the object information has an access map for performing conversion between a time axis and a data (bit string) axis.

As shown in FIG. 15, the reproduction control information has a user-defined reproduction path information table, an original reproduction path information table, and a title search pointer.

As shown in FIG. 16, the reproduction path includes the DV
There are two types: original definition reproduction path information that is automatically generated so that the D recorder indicates all objects recorded at the time of object recording, and user-defined reproduction path information that allows a user to freely define a reproduction sequence. The playback path is PGC information (Program Chain Informatio
n), the user-defined reproduction path information is U-PGC information, and the original reproduction path information is O-PG
It is called C information. Each of the O-PGC information and the U-PGC information is information that lists cell information, which is information indicating a cell that is a reproduction section of the object, in a table format. The playback section of the object indicated by the O-PGC information is called an original cell (O-CELL),
The playback section of the object indicated by the GC information is called a user cell (U-CELL). The cell indicates the reproduction section of the object by the reproduction start time and the reproduction end time of the object, and the reproduction start time and the reproduction end time are converted into the actual recording position information of the object on the disk by the access map described above.

As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the cell group indicated by the PGC information forms a series of reproduction sequences that are sequentially reproduced according to the entry order of the table.

FIG. 17 shows objects, cells, PGCs,
FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically illustrating a relationship between access maps. As shown in FIG. 17, the original PGC information 50 includes at least one piece of cell information 60, 61, 62, 63.
The cell information 60... Specifies an object to be reproduced, and specifies the object type and the reproduction section of the object. The recording order of the cell information in the PGC information 50 indicates the reproduction order when the object specified by each cell is reproduced.

One piece of cell information 60 has type information (Type) 60a indicating the type of the object designated by the cell information 60.
And an object ID which is object identification information
(Object ID) 60b and start time information (Start_PTM) 60 in the object on the time axis
c and end time information (E
nd_PTM) 60d.

At the time of data reproduction, the cell information 60 in the PCG information 50 is sequentially read, and the object specified by each cell is reproduced for the reproduction section specified by the cell.

The access map 80c converts the start time information and the end time information indicated by the cell information into position information of the object on the disk.

The map information described above is generated and recorded together with the recording of the object. In order to generate a map, it is necessary to analyze the picture structure in the data of the object. Specifically, it is necessary to detect the position of the I picture shown in FIG. 9 and to detect time stamp information such as PTS, which is the reproduction time of the I picture shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

Here, a description will be given of a problem that occurs when map information of PS-VOB, TS1-VOB, and TS2-VOB is generated. PS-VOB, TS1-VOB
Is mainly generated by a DVD recorder encoding a received analog broadcast into an MPEG stream as described with reference to FIG. Therefore, the information of the I picture and various time stamps is generated by itself,
The data structure inside the stream is clear to the VD recorder, and there is no problem in generating map information.

Next, regarding TS2-VOB, as described with reference to FIG.
The D recorder directly records on the disk without encoding. For this reason, unlike the PS-VOB, the position and time stamp information of the I picture are not generated by themselves, so that the data structure inside the stream is not clear for the DVD recorder, and the information is detected from the digital stream to be recorded. Is required.

For this reason, the DVD recorder uses a TS that records a stream encoded outside the recorder.
As for 2-VOB map information, an I picture and a time stamp are detected as follows. First, the detection of the I picture is performed by detecting the random access display information of the application field of the TS packet shown in FIG.
The detection of the time stamp is performed by detecting the PTS of the PES header. For the time stamp, instead of the PTS, use the PCR in the application field.
Alternatively, the ATS, which is the arrival timing at which the TS packet is transmitted to the DVD recorder, may be used instead. In any case, the DVD recorder does not analyze the data structure of the video layer of the MPEG stream, but detects the position of the I picture based on the information of the system layer which is the upper layer. This is because the load on the system is large to perform the analysis of the video layer to generate the map information.

In some cases, it is impossible to detect the system layer. In this case, however, it is necessary to indicate that there is no valid map information because map information cannot be generated. In the DVD recorder, these are indicated by the map management information shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15B, the map management information has map validity information and a self-encoding flag. The self-encoding flag indicates that the object is an object encoded by the DVD recorder itself, indicates that the internal picture structure is clear, and indicates that the time stamp information of the map information and the position information of the I picture are accurate. The map validity information indicates whether there is a valid access map.

As examples where the system layer cannot be detected, a case where no applicable field is set or a digital stream which is not an MPEG transport stream in the first place can be considered. Since various formats of digital broadcasting can be established in countries around the world, it is naturally expected that DVD recorders record objects for which maps cannot be generated. For example, DV assuming digital broadcasting in Japan
When a D recorder is used in the United States and a digital broadcast in the United States is recorded, there are cases where an object for which a map cannot be generated is recorded.

[0069] However, the DVD recorder can sequentially reproduce the objects for which no map information is generated from the beginning. In this case, by outputting the recorded digital stream to the STB corresponding to the stream via the digital I / F, the video can be reproduced.

(6. Basic Operation of Reproduction Function) Next, FIG.
A reproduction operation of a DVD recorder player that reproduces the above-mentioned optical disk using will be described. As shown in FIG. 18, the player has an optical pickup 201 for reading data from the DVD-RAM disc 100, an ECC processing unit 202 for performing error correction and the like on the read data, and temporarily stores the read data after error correction. Track buffer 203 and moving image object (PS_VOB)
Decoder 20 for reproducing a program stream such as
5 and a TS decoder 20 for reproducing a transport stream of a digital broadcast object (TS1_VOB)
6, an audio decoder 207 for reproducing an audio object (AOB), and a still image object (P
OB), a switch 210 for switching data input to each of the decoders 205, 206,..., And a control unit 211 for controlling each part of the player
And

Data recorded on the DVD-RAM disk 100 is read from the optical pickup 201 and passed through the ECC processing unit 202 to the track buffer 20.
3 is stored. The data stored in the track buffer 203 includes a PS decoder 205, a TS decoder 206,
The signal is input to one of the audio decoder 207 and the still image decoder 208, decoded, and output. At this time,
The control unit 211 determines data to be read based on the reproduction sequence indicated by the reproduction path information (PGC) shown in FIG. That is, in the example of FIG.
First, the partial section (CELL # 1) of OB # 1 is reproduced,
Next, control is performed to reproduce the partial section (CELL # 2) of VOB # 3 and finally reproduce it as VOB # 2 (CELL # 3).

Further, the control unit 211 can acquire the type of the cell to be reproduced, the corresponding object, the reproduction start time of the object, and the reproduction end time from the cell information of the reproduction path information (PGC) shown in FIG. . The control unit 211 inputs the data of the section of the object specified by the cell information to a suitable decoder. On this occasion,
The control unit 211 specifies an object to be reproduced based on the Object ID of the cell information. Further, the control unit 2
Reference numeral 11 denotes a cell which is a reproduction section of the specified object, by using StartPTM and EndPTM of the cell information.
Is converted to the address of the disk information using the access map of the corresponding VOB information.

The player according to the present embodiment further comprises:
It has a digital interface 204 for supplying an AV stream to the outside. This makes it possible to supply the AV stream to the outside via communication means such as IEEE 1394 or IEC958. This is especially true for TS2-VOBs that have not been encoded by themselves, since there may be no corresponding decoder inside the player, so that the TS2-VOB is directly output to the external STB through the digital interface 204 without decoding. The STB can be played back.

When directly outputting digital data to the outside, the control section 211 determines whether or not random access reproduction is possible based on the map management information shown in FIG.
If the access point information flag is valid, the access map has the position information of the I picture. Therefore, if there is a request for fast-forward playback or the like from an external device, the control unit 211 can output digital data including an I picture to the external device via the digital I / F.
If the time access information flag is valid, time access is possible. Therefore, in response to a time access request from an external device, the control unit 211 can output digital data including picture data corresponding to the designated reproduction time to the external device via the digital I / F. .

(7. Basic Operation of Recording Function) Next, FIG.
The configuration and operation of a DVD recorder according to the present invention, which records and reproduces data on and from the optical disk by using a DVD, will be described. As shown in FIG. 19, the DVD recorder displays a message to the user and receives a request from the user.
/ F section 222, a system control section 212 for managing and controlling the entire DVD recorder, an analog broadcast tuner 213 for receiving VHF and UHF, an encoder 214 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal and encoding it into an MPEG program stream, digital satellite broadcasting , A digital broadcast tuner 215, an analyzer 216 for analyzing an MPEG transport stream sent by a digital satellite, a display 217 such as a television and a speaker,
A decoder 218 for decoding the AV stream. The decoder 218 includes the first and second decoders shown in FIG. The DVD recorder further includes a digital I / F unit 219, a track buffer 220 for temporarily storing write data, and a DVD-RAM 100.
And a drive 221 for writing data to the device. The digital I / F unit 219 is an interface that outputs data to an external device by a communication unit such as IEEE1394.

In the DVD recorder thus configured, the user I / F section 222 first receives a request from the user. The user I / F unit 222 transmits a request from the user to the system control unit 212, and the system control unit 212
Interprets the request from the user and makes a processing request to each module.

There are two types of recording: self-encoding, which encodes input digital data by itself, and outside encoding, which records encoded digital data on a disk without encoding it.

(7.1 Recording Operation by Self-Encoding) First, with respect to self-encoding recording, the operation of encoding an analog broadcast to PS-VOB and recording will be specifically described below. System control unit 2
12 requests reception to the analog broadcast tuner 213 and encoding to the encoder unit 214.

The encoder 214 video-encodes the AV data sent from the analog broadcast tuner 213,
Audio encoding and system encoding are performed and sent to the track buffer 220. Encoder section 214
Is the MPE that is encoding immediately after encoding starts.
The time stamp information of the head data of the G program stream is converted to the reproduction start time (PS_VOB_V_S_P
TM) to the system control unit 212, and then sends information necessary for creating an access map to the system control unit 212 in parallel with the encoding process. This value is
Start_P of cell information shown in FIG. 17 generated later
Set to TM. The time stamp information is generally PTS, but may be replaced by SCR.

Next, the system control unit 212
21, and the drive 221 extracts the data stored in the track buffer 220 and
The data is recorded on the VD-RAM disk 100. At this time, the above-mentioned continuous area (CDA) is searched from the recordable area on the disc, and data is recorded in the searched continuous area.

The end of recording is instructed by a stop request from the user. The recording stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 212 through the user I / F unit 222, and the system control unit 212
3 and a stop request is issued to the encoder unit 214.

The encoder 214 has a system control unit 212
In response to the request to stop encoding, the encoding process is stopped, and the time stamp information included in the end data of the MPEG program stream that was finally encoded is sent to the system control unit 212 as the reproduction end time (PS_VOB_V_E_PTM). This value is set in End_PTM of the cell information shown in FIG. PTS is usually set as the time stamp information, but SCR may be used instead.

After the encoding process is completed, the system control section 212 uses the information received from the encoder 214 to generate the PS-VOB VOB information (PS-VOB information) shown in FIG.
VOBI) and playback control information. Here, the generated VOB information includes an access map suitable for the object type and map management information. System control unit 21
2 sets the map validity information of the map management information to valid and turns on the self-encoding flag.

As the reproduction control information, an original reproduction path (O-PGC information) shown in FIG. 16 in which the recorded object is one of the reproduction targets is generated. The generated O-PGC information is added to the original reproduction path table. The original reproduction path (O-PGC information) has cell information. The type information of the cell information includes "PS-VO
B ”is set.

Lastly, the system control unit 212 requests the drive 221 to end the recording of the data stored in the track buffer 220 and to record the VOB information (PS_VOBI) for PS-VOB and the reproduction control information. The drive 221 stores the remaining data in the track buffer 220 and these information on the DVD-RAM disk 100.
And the recording process ends.

It is needless to say that analog broadcasting may be encoded into TS1-VOB. In this case, encoder 2
It is necessary that the encoder 14 converts an analog signal into a digital signal and encodes the digital signal into an MPEG transport stream, and the type information in the cell information is “TS1-
VOB ". Start_PTM in this case
End_PTM may be PTS or PCR.

(7.2 Recording Operation by Outside Encoding) Next, recording by outside encoding will be specifically described through the operation of recording a digital broadcast. In this case, the type of the recorded object is TS2-VOB.

The digital broadcast recording request from the user is transmitted to the system control section 212 through the user I / F section 222. The system control unit 212 requests reception to the digital broadcast tuner 215 and data analysis to the analysis unit 216. MPE sent from digital broadcast tuner 215
The G transport stream is transferred to the track buffer 220 through the analysis unit 216. The analysis unit 216
An encoded MPEG transport stream (TS2-VOB) first received as a digital broadcast
As the information necessary for generating the VOB information (TS2_VOBI), the time stamp information of the leading data of the transport stream is included in the start time information (TS2_VOB).
_V_S_PTM), and the system control unit 21
Send to 2. The start time information is set in Start_PTM of the cell information generated later and shown in FIG. This time stamp information becomes PCR or PTS. Also,
ATS, which is the timing when the object is transmitted to the DVD recorder, may be used instead.

The analysis unit 216 further analyzes the system layer of the MPEG transport stream and detects information necessary for creating an access map. Regarding the position of the I picture in the object, as described above, the random access indicator (random_ac) in the adaptation field in the TS packet header is used.
ses_indicator).

Next, the system control unit 212
The drive 221 outputs a recording request to the track buffer 220 and records the data on the DVD-RAM disk 100. At this time, the system control unit 212 instructs the drive 221 on the basis of the allocation information of the file system where to record on the disc. At this time, the above-mentioned continuous area (CDA) is searched from the recordable area on the disc, and data is recorded in the searched continuous area.

The end of recording is instructed by a stop request from the user. The recording stop request from the user is transmitted to the system control unit 212 through the user I / F unit 222, and the system control unit 212
5 and a stop request is sent to the analysis unit 216.

The analysis unit 216 receives the analysis stop request from the system control unit 212, stops the analysis process, and displays the time stamp information included in the data of the end section of the last analyzed MPEG transport stream at the display end time (TS
2_VOB_V_E_PTM) as the system control unit 2
Send to 12. This value corresponds to the End of the cell information shown in FIG.
_PTM is set. This time stamp information is P
CR or PTS. Alternatively, ATS, which is the timing at which the object is transmitted to the DVD recorder, may be used instead.

After the digital broadcast reception processing is completed, the system control unit 212, based on the information received from the analysis unit 216, displays the TS2-VOB VOB information (T
S2_VOBI) and playback control information. here,
The generated VOB information includes an access map suitable for the object type and map management information. The system control unit 212 sets the map validity information of the map management information to valid when detecting a position or the like of the I picture in the object and generating a valid access map. The self-encoding flag is set to OFF. If a valid access map cannot be generated, the map validity information is set to invalid. As a case where a valid access map cannot be generated, a case where an unsupported digital broadcast is received, a case where there is no random access information in an applicable field, and the like are considered. In the case where the data is directly input from the digital I / F, there may be a case where the stream is not an MPEG transport stream.

As the reproduction control information, an original reproduction path (O-PGC information) shown in FIG. 16 in which the recorded object is one of the reproduction targets is generated. The generated O-PGC information is added to the original reproduction path table. The original reproduction path (O-PGC information) has cell information. The type information of the cell information includes "TS2-VO
B ”is set.

Lastly, the system control unit 212 requests the drive 221 to end the recording of the data stored in the track buffer 220 and to record the VOB information (TS2_VOBI) for TS2-VOB and the reproduction control information. The drive 221 stores the remaining data in the track buffer 220 and these information on the DVD-RAM disk 100.
And the recording process ends.

The operation has been described above based on the recording start and end requests from the user. For example, in the case of timer recording used in a VTR, the system control unit automatically starts recording on behalf of the user. And an end request are issued, but the operation of the DVD recorder is not essentially different.

(8. Outline of the Invention) The operation of recording a digital broadcast in a DVD recorder has been briefly described above. However, HDD recorders and the like of each company record and manage recording contents in a unique format. As described above, in the recording format different for each device, when copying between the devices, it is necessary to convert the data structure of the copy destination and the copy source. For this purpose, the recording side knows both data formats. Must be implemented, which means that it is not practically possible to mount the device. In addition, if content is distributed via a digital interface or the like in the same manner as in actual digital broadcasting, copying takes the same time as the content reproduction time, and the user convenience is extremely poor.

The present invention specifies an MPEG transport stream recording format that can be commonly interpreted between different devices. Thus, for example, when copying between devices connected via a digital interface, copying at the highest transfer rate of the digital interface is enabled without depending on the reproduction time of the content to be copied.

[0099] Similarly, copying via an information recording medium is also possible. Furthermore, since the original MPEG transport stream can be converted into a common format by applying only a simple extension, and the inverse conversion is also easy, a simple extension is performed in a device that reproduces many MPEG transport streams. This makes it possible to reproduce the MPEG transport stream file. In addition, a means is provided for converting from a device-specific data format to an MPEG transport stream file format of the present invention in accordance with an instruction from the user when the user makes a copy, utilizing the ease of conversion. It is also effective.

(9. Detailed Embodiment) The platform-independent storage format (HLA) of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 20A shows a normal MPEG transport stream, and FIG.
Is the HLA file structure. As shown in the figure, H
LA is a format in which a header portion is added to an original MPEG transport stream, and a time stamp is added to each MPEG transport packet.

The time accuracy of the time stamp (TTS) given to each MPEG transport packet is calculated using the time stamp accuracy information (TTS_level_in) in the header.
The MPEG transport stream having various bit rates can be stored by using a time stamp (TTS) with a small information amount. For example, for a high bit rate MPEG transport stream, the time stamp precision information may be set to a value representing a precision of 27 MHz, and conversely, for a low bit rate MPEG transport stream, Can be set flexibly by changing the time stamp accuracy information according to the MPEG transport stream to be stored, for example, by setting the time stamp accuracy information to a value representing 90 KHz accuracy.

Next, an example of the configuration of the header section and the data section of the HLA will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
The header section starts with HLA_descriptor.
HLA_descriptor is identification information for identifying an HLA file, and is “HLA_stream”.
And so on.

The version is information for identifying the version of the HLA format, and is HLA_hea.
der_length is information indicating the byte length of the header part of the HLA format, and is TTS_level_i.
ndicator is information indicating the accuracy of the time stamp (TTS). For example, 30Hz is 0x00, 90K
Hz is used to represent 0x08 and 27 MHz is used to represent 0x10. TTS_length indicates the byte length of the time stamp (TTS) stored in the data section. pac
ket_length indicates the byte length of the packet stored in the data section. If the stream to be stored is an MPEG transport stream, packet_len
188 is described in gth.

FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of the data portion.
As shown in (b), a time stamp (TTS) and a packet are repeatedly described until the end of data. As described above, since the HLA has a very simple configuration, the MPEG transport stream recorded by the DVD recorder can be easily converted to the HLA format.

FIG. 22 shows a configuration example of the information recording apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the difference from the current DVD recorder is that a DVD recorder is provided. When externally outputting the content data unique to the DVD recorder recorded on the DVD-RAM disc 100 in the HLA format, the system control unit 212 sends a user's external reproduction request via the user I / F unit 222. to decide. The system control unit 212 stores the DVD-
A recording start address on the RAM disk 100 is calculated from the reproduction management information, and reading to the drive 221 is started.
A conversion request is instructed to the conversion unit 223.

Data read from the DVD-RAM disk 100 is temporarily stored in the track buffer 220 from the drive 221 and read by the conversion unit 223.

The conversion unit 223 interprets, for example, the data structure shown in FIG. 14C, transfers it to the digital I / F unit 219 while converting it into the format shown in FIG. I do. The conversion by the conversion unit 223 is performed as shown in FIG.
Time stamp (ATS) precision to time stamp precision information (TTS_level_indicator)
Is determined, and the time stamp (TTS) and the byte length of the packet are obtained, thereby generating the HLA header portion and subsequently creating the HLA data portion.

When a request from the user to end external reproduction is transmitted to the system control unit 212 via the user I / F unit 222, the system control unit 212 sends a request to the drive 221, the conversion unit 223, and the digital I / F unit 219. A termination request is issued, and the digital I / F unit 219 notifies the external device of the transfer completion. When the selected content data has been transmitted to the external device until the end, the drive 221 reads the content data up to the end address of the content, and the data temporarily stored in the track buffer 220 is completely converted by the conversion unit 223, and the digital I / O The reproduction ends at the time when the data is transmitted to the F unit 219.

The operation for transferring the content recorded on the DVD recorder to the external device in the HLA format has been described above. However, when the converted data is recorded on the internal information storage medium, the output destination is the digital I / O. F unit 219 is changed to track buffer 220 and drive 2
It is only recorded at 21 and does not essentially differ in operation.

When an HLA stream is received from an external device and recorded on an information recording medium, a digital I / O
The HLA transferred to the conversion unit 223 via the F unit 219
The stream is converted into, for example, the format shown in FIG.
1 can be realized by recording on the DVD-RAM 100,
The reproduction management information is transmitted from the digital I / F unit 219 to the analysis unit 2.
16 can be realized by the analysis unit 216 analyzing the data transferred to the system control unit 16 and transferring the map information to the system control unit 212.

Although the MPEG transport stream is converted to the HLA stream, the HLA stream is not limited to the MPEG transport stream, and other digital data packets may be stored in the HLA stream.

Although the DVD-RAM has been described as the information recording medium, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a recording medium such as an HDD or a semiconductor memory.

When the content data to be converted into the HLA stream has a locally low bit rate and the time stamp (TTS) time accuracy of the entire HLA stream decreases, a dummy packet is inserted.
It is possible to perform conversion while maintaining high time accuracy over the entire HLA stream. In this case, the dummy packet may be composed only of the data 0x00, or a null packet having a PID of 0x1FFF may be inserted when an MPEG transport stream is stored.

[0114]

According to the information reproducing / recording apparatus of the present invention,
An information recording medium in which an MPEG transport stream is recorded in a platform-independent storage format is provided, and copying between devices can be performed at high speed and easily without depending on real time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an example of the external appearance of a DVD recorder device and an interface with related devices;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a drive device of the DVD recorder.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a continuous area on a disk and a data accumulation amount in a track buffer;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a DVD recorder provided with a semiconductor memory card and a hard disk drive.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the external appearance and physical structure of a disk.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a logical data space of a disk;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the directory and file structure of a disk.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video object.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an MPEG system stream.

FIG. 10 illustrates an MPEG-TS stream.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an MPEG-PS stream.

FIG. 12 illustrates a TS packet.

FIG. 13 illustrates a PAT table.

FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the arrangement of video objects on a disc.

FIG. 15 illustrates a data structure of video management information.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining the data structure of video management information.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining the relationship between PGC information, object information, and objects of video management information.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a playback device.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a recording apparatus.

FIG. 20 is a view for explaining an example of the data structure of an HLA stream.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of an HLA stream.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 DVD-RAM disk 101, 201 Optical pickup 102, 202 ECC processing unit 103, 203, 220 Track buffer 104, 210 Switch 105, 214 Encoder 106, 205, 206, 218 decoder 207 Audio decoder 208 Still image decoder 211 Control unit 212 System control unit 213 Analog broadcast tuner 215 Digital broadcast tuner 216 Analysis unit 217 Display unit 219 Digital I / F unit 221 Drive 222 User I / F unit 223 Conversion unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 5/92 H 5/92 5/91 P (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hamasaka Kadoma, Osaka 1006 Oaza Kadoma Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.F-term (reference)

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An information recording medium on which a digital stream is recorded, wherein a file for storing the digital stream comprises a header section and a data section, and the header section includes at least a decoder input provided to each digital data packet. Time accuracy information of a time stamp indicating a time is stored, and the data section records a digital stream file comprising each digital data packet and a time stamp indicating a decoder input time of the digital data packet. Information recording medium. 2. An information recording medium on which a digital stream is recorded, wherein a file for storing the digital stream includes a header section and a data section, and the header section has at least one packet data length of each digital data packet. An information recording medium having a digital stream file recorded therein, wherein information indicating the digital stream file is stored and packet data having the packet data length is stored in the data portion. 3. An information recording apparatus comprising means for recording the digital stream according to claim 1. 4. An information reproducing apparatus comprising means for reproducing the digital stream according to claim 1. 5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
Means for connecting to an external device via a digital interface, via the digital interface,
2. A digital stream obtained from an external device,
Alternatively, an information recording apparatus comprising means for converting the digital stream into the digital stream according to 2 and recording the digital stream on an information recording medium. 6. The information reproducing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:
An information reproducing apparatus comprising: means for connecting to an external device via a digital interface; and means for outputting the digital stream according to claim 1 or 2 to the external device via the digital interface. 7. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the digital stream stores an MPEG transport stream. 8. An information recording apparatus comprising means for recording the digital stream according to claim 7. 9. An information reproducing apparatus comprising means for reproducing the digital stream according to claim 7. 10. A method according to claim 7, wherein a predetermined MPEG stream is used.
An information recording apparatus, comprising: means for converting into a digital stream format described in (1).